Process of water clarification



United States Patent ICC 3,509,041

Patented Apr. 28, 1970 3 509 047 or by amidifying with a carboxylate group. For example, PROCESS OF WATEi: CLARIFICATION a Polymer the fmmula Brian M. Rushton, Edina, Minn., assignor to Petrolite Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware HZCH L; H OH I';

No Drawing. Original application Mar.25, 1965, Ser. No. 5 a C 9 442,793, new Patent No. 3,445,441, dated May 20, having the labile hydrogens indicated by the circles which 1969. Divided and this application Jan. 13, 1969, Ser. y fwd Wlth a monomer No. 790,845 0 Int. Cl. B01d 21/0]; C02b 1/20 g US. Cl. 21054 6 Claims CHFCH OR 10 for example as follows:

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Process for water clarification characterized by treating Water containing suspended matter with an amino-amido P H polymer characterized by being a reaction product of at NCH2CH2NCH2OH2NOHZCHZC- least a polyamine and an acrylate'type compound This can further polymerize to form a polymer of the ing the formula type where R is hydrogen or methyl and R is methyl, ethyl, ggi i kgfggg gf zg g 558; gii gf aryl or Further cross-linking can also take place in a similar y p manner by reactions of the labile hydrogens. The amido hydrogen is believed to be less labile than the amino hy- This application is a division of my copending applicadrogen. Cross-links can grow from one or more points tion Ser. No. 442,793 filed on Mar. 25, 1965, now US. indicated by the encircled hydrogens. Patent No. 3,445,441, granted on May 20, 1969. In addition, cross-linking may also take place by amidi- This invention relates to polymers formed by reacting fication of the labile hydrogens, for example, as follows: an unsaturated carboxylate with a polyamine; and to uses therefor. I I

These polymers are characterized by both amido and NCH2CHZNCH2CH2 amino groups. In their simplest embodiments they may q? I=0 0 be represented by units of the following idealized formula: NCH2CH2NCHPCHZILOIECHPIL R R R O which can further react with amino monomers or poly- I I I II mers and/or unsaturated monomers or polymers to form :II branched polymers, for example:

i i I i i -NCH2CH2NCH2CH2-NCH2CH2CNCH2CH2NCH2CH2NCH2CH2 I n NCH2CH2NCH2CH2NCH2CH2C where the Rs, which may be the same or different, are Further reaction and cross-links may also occur at the hydrogen or a substituted group, such as a hydrocarbon other labile hydrogens in a similar manner for example, group, for example alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, aryl, etc. and in accord with the following formula:

I I I NCH2CH2NCH2OH2A NCH2CH2NCH2CH2C I I NCHzCHzNCHaCHzNCHzCHzCNCHzCHzCO 0 I I II II I (fi-GHzCHrNOHzOHgNOOHtCHtIfOHgOHzN CHzOHzN- o hl-GfizCHzNCHzCIfiNfi-CflzCHr- 0 0 a a a -(H]CH2CH2NCHzCH2NfiCH2CHzNCH2CH2NCHzCH2 O o 0 A is a moiety of the polyamine which, for example, may Polymers may also be formed in the following manner: be aryl, cycloalkyl, alkyl, etc., and n is an integer such as 0 0 1-10 or greater. H H

The above simplified formula represents a linear poly- *NGHtCHzNCCHzCHt OHzOHzCNCHzOHzN- mer. However, cross-linked polymers may also be formed CH QH N by employing certain conditions since the polymer has I I NOH OH NCCH CH CH CH 0- 0 labile hydrogens WhlCh can further react with either the 2 2 2 2 2 I HZCHZN unsaturated moiety by adding across the double :bond

and the polymer can continue to grow out of any of the points indicated by the encircled hydrogen, particularly at the more labile non-amide hydrogens.

The above formulae are presented to indicate possible methods by which crosslinking or other reactions can occur but it is not to be assumed that these are the sole means by which crosslinking or other reactions may occur.

The polymerization is carried out at any suitable temperature. Temperatures up to the decomposition points of reactants and products such as up to 200 C. or higher have been employed. In practice, one generally carries out the polymerization by heating the reactants below 100 C., such as 80-90" C., for a suitable period of time, such as a \few hours. Where an acrylic-type ester is em ployed, the progress of the reaction can be judged by the removal of the alcohol in forming the amide. During the early part of the reaction alcohol is removed quite readily below 100 C. in the case of low boiling alcohols such as methanol or ethanol. As the reaction slows, the temperature is raised to push the polymerization to completion and the temperatures may be raised to 150-200" C. toward the end of the reaction. Removal of alcohol is a convenient method of judging the progress and completion of the reaction which is generally continued until no more alcohol is evolved. Based on removal of alcohol, the yields are generally stoichiometric. In more difficult polymerizations, yields of at least 95% are generally obtained.

The reaction time involved can vary widely depending on a. wide variety of factors. For example, there is a relationship between time and temperature. In general, lower temperature demands longer times. In practice I employ times of from about 2 to 30 hours, such as to 25 hours, and preferably 3 to hours.

I have found that although one can employ a solvent, the reaction can be run without the use of any solvent. In fact, where a high degree of crosslinking is desired, it is preferable to avoid the use of a solvent and most particularly to avoid a polar solvent such as water. However, taking into consideration the effect of solvent on the reaction, where desired, any suitable solvent can be employed, whether organic or inorganic, polar or non-polar.

The polyamines employed in this invention include those of the following formula:

NH: AN RE where n is for example 1-8 or greater, Where A is a divalent radical for example straight chained or branched CHgC-HaN -H CHzCHzN 4-H r t NHrqCH-CHPN H NH2 0 Ha -540N112, etc.

Other examples include the following alkylated polyamines for example of the formula where the Rs are H or a substituted group, such as alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, aryl, etc. The preferable type is of the formula (R is straight chain or branched).

Examples include the following:

l CmHgaN-CHZ O HzNH:

H H H Preacylated amines can also be employed provided the resulting amino amide has at least two labile-nonamido hydrogens, for example Aromatic polyamines can also be employed, for example:

umomOQ-onmn: NHzCHzQOQ-CILNH:

etc. or substituted derivatives thereof for example, alkyl, alkoxy, halo, etc. derivatives.

Thus, any polyamine, whether aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic, etc., can be employed provided it is capable of adding across the acrylic double bond and amidifying with the acrylic carboxylic group.

The acrylate-type compound employed herein has for example the following formula:

where R is for example hydrogen or an alkyl group, such as methyl, and R is hydrogen or an alkyl group, capable of being removed so as to form an amido group, for example methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, secbutyl, tert-butyl, aryl, hexyl, etc. In the preferred embodiments these compounds are acrylic and methacrylic esters such as methyl or ethyl acrylate, methyl or ethyl methacrylate.

The type of polymer varies with reaction conditions. For example, a more linear polymer is formed where substantially equimolar amounts of the unsaturated carboxylate and polyamine are reacted. The presence of excesses of one or the other of the reactant tends to yield a polymer which is more cross-linked than that obtained where substantially equimolar amounts of reactants are employed. Where for economic or other reasons a crosslinked polymer using excess amine is desired, I generally employ a molar excess of the polyamine of about at least 10%, such as l0-300%, or greater, for example 25200%, but preferably an excess of about 50l00%. For more efiicient cross-linking I prefer to use an excess of carboxylated material since a cleaner reaction ensues. For example, a molar excess of about 10-100% or greater such as l050% but preferably an excess of 30-50%, of the carboxylated material. Larger excess can be employed if desired.

In summary, without considering other factors, equimolar amounts of reactants tend to produce a more linear polymer whereas excesses of either reactants tend to yield a more cross-linked polymer. The actual molar excess of either reactant employed will depend on the cross-linking desired and excesses of as high as 300% polyamine may be employed. I generally employ a molar excess of polyamine ranging from about 30 to 300%, but preferably about 50 to 200% or a carboxylate excess of 20 to 50%. However, it should be noted that the higher the polyamine (i.e. in greater the number of amino groups on the molecule) the greater the statistical probability of cross-linking since, for example, a tetraalkylenepentamine, such as tetraethylene pentamine has more labile hydrogens than ethylene diamine.

In certain instances, in addition to the reactants, it may be desirable to incorporate specific cross-linking agents into the reaction. In general, these cross-linking agents are polyfunctional carboxylates or polyfunctional amines, (i.e. having a functionality of at least three reactive groups), since the presence of at least three functional 6 groups enhances cross-linking. To conform to the type of linking already present in the polymer, it is desirable to have this cross-linking either by amidification or by amine-addition to unsaturated groups, or both. In practice one may employ the following types of cross-linking agents:

where A is alkylene (straight chained or branched) for example methylene, ethylene, propylene, etc., and R is hydrogen or alkyl, for example 0 N [(CHzh-a OCHak or other lower alkyl esters of nitrilo tricarboxylic acids. Another cross-linking agent is for example where the ns which may be the same or different are l-S or greater, R is hydrogen or alkyl and the (CH groups may be straight chained or branched, for example,

R 0 C on,

etc.

In addition where lower polyamines are employed such as ethylenediamine or phenylenediamine, polyamines such as those of the formula (n is greater than 1) can be employed as cross-linking agents where A is an alkylene group, for example, ethylene, propylene, butylene, etc. Since the higher the amine the greater the number of labile hydrogens, it may desirable to employ in conjunction with diamines, triamines or higher amines such as etc. Alkylated derivatives thereof can also be employed provided the resulting polyamine has at least three labile cross-1inking hydrogens such as for example where R is a hydrocarbon group such as alkyl, alkenyl, etc.

One type of cross-linking polyamine which is advantageously employed in this invention is an analogue of the nitrilo-tricarboxylic acids, i.e. nitrilo-triamine of the formula N(ANH 3 where A is for example alkylene (straight chain and branched) such as ethylene, propylene, butylene, etc. for example etc.

Nitrilotripropionic acid (A) and nitrilotriethylamine (B) may form the following types of cross-linking networks:

Methyl methacrylate (100 g., 1 mole) and ethylene diamine (120.2 g., 2 moles) were mixed and reacted in the apparatus described in Example 1. The reaction took 15 hours to reach completion and 29 g. methanol (theory 32 g.) was formed. The excess ethylene diamine was removed by fractional distillation at atmospheric pressure, followed by several hours at a reduced pressure (50-55 25-50 mm.) and at a further reduced pressure 150-185/ 1-4 mm.). The crude produce was a reddish-yellow polymeric solid (126.4 g., i.e. 98.5% yield) which was hygroscopic when ground to a powder.

Example 3 Methyl acrylate (43.0 g., 0.5 mole) and diethylene triamine (103.2 g., 1 mole) were placed in a 250 ml. roundbottorned flask using ice-water cooling. The flask was l GH2CHzCONCH2CH2NCH2CH2G OIITOHzCHzIfO (3- H I I I I GHzCHzNCHzCHzCON CHzCHzN -NCH2CH:OON GHzGHg-N H H H I l CH2 OHrI CH2CH2CONGHzCHZN Example 1 Methyl acrylate (100 g., 1.0 mole) and ethylene diamine (120.2 g., 2 mole) were mixed together with icecooling in a 500 ml. round-bottomed flask. The flask and contents were placed in an electrically-heated oil bath and fitted with a precision built Vigreux fractionating column having a theoretical plate equivalent of circa 10. The column was topped with a water-cooled partial takeoff still head capable of allowing the system to be placed under reduced pressure. A receiving flask was attached to the still head and the reaction flask was stirred magnetically.

The reaction mixture was now heated at 80-90 C. for one-half hour. At this point, methanol begins to form freely and was now fractionally distilled from the mixture. The oil bath temperature was raised to 125-130 and was held at this point for 5 hours until 32 g. methanol fitted with a magnetic stirrer, and a water-cooled partialtake-ofi still head leading into a receiving flask. The still head had a side-arm to enable vacuum to be applied and a thermometer socket. The flask and contents were heated by means of an electrically heated oil bath.

The reaction mixture was heated to an oil-bath temperature of 135 which was gradually raised to 195 over 9.5 hours. A total of 15.6 g. methanol distilled from the reaction mixture (theory 16 g.). The temperature was reduced and excess diethylene triamine was removed by distillation under conditions of gradually increasing temperature and gradually reducing pressure (l75/25-4 mm.). The product was an amber-colored highly viscous polymer which was Water soluble and the yield was essentially Example 4 Methyl acrylate (86.1 g., 1 mole) and ethylene diamine (42.0 g., 0.7 mole) were mixed and reacted in an apparatus already described in Example 3. The reaction took 4.75 hours; 24.8 g. methanol were formed and the oil-bath temperature was varied between -135 No excess amine was observed when the methanol formation had ceased. The product was dissolved in anhydrous methanol (200 ml.) and poured into stirred ether (500 ml.). After settling, the supernatant upper layer 'was decanted from the lower viscous bottom layer. The bottom layer was now dried in a vacuum oven under reduced pressure (aspirator) at 50-60. A yellow, hygroscopic polymeric material was obtained as a solid foam.

Example 5 Methyl acrylate (43.0 g., 0.5 mole) and trimethyl tripropiouate (10.5 g., 0.035 mole) were added to ethylene Crosslinking TABLE II in Example 3) at 120 gradual increase in temperature to 180 over 4.25

diamine (30 g., 05 mole) in a 250 m1. round-bottomed flask with ice-water cooling. The reactants were then heated (in the apparatus described with a lation. In cleaning the equipment used in processing such products, diluted oil-in-water emulsions are inadvertently, incidentally, or accidentally produced. The disposal of aqueous wastes is, in general, hampered by the presence of oil-in-water emulsions.

Essential oils comprise non-saponifiable materials like terpenes, lactones, and alcohols. They also contain saponifiable esters or mixtures of saponifiable and non-saponifiable materials. Steam distillation and other production procedures sometimes cause oil-in-water emulsions to be produced, from which the valuable essential oils are difficult to recover.

In all such examples, a non-aqeous or oily material is emulsified in an aqueous or non-oily material with which it is naturally immiscible. The term oil is used herein to cover broadly the water-immiscible materials present as dispersed particles in such systems. The nonoily phase obviously includes diethylene glycol, aqueous SOlli;lO]1S, and other non-oily media in addition to water use The foregoing examples illustrate the fact that, within the broad genus of oil-in-water emulsions, there are at least three important sub-genera. In these, the dispersed oily material is respectively non-saponifiable, saponifiable, and a mixture of non-saponifiable and saponifiable materials. Among the most important emulsions of nonsaponifiable material in water are petroleum oil-in-water emulsions. Saponifiable oil-in-Water emulsions have dispersed phases comprising, for example, saponifiable oils and fats and fatty acids, and other saponifiable oily or fatty esters and the organic components of such esters to the extent such components are immiscible with aqueous media. Emulsions produced from certain blended lubricating compositions containing both mineral and fatty oil ingredients are examples of the third sub-genus.

Oil-in-water emulsions contain widely different proportions of dispersed phase. Where the emulsion is a waste product resulting from the flushing with water of manu facturing areas or equipment, the oil content may be only a few parts per million. Resin emulsion paints, as produced, contain a major proportion of dispersed phase. Naturally-occurring oil-field emulsions of the oil-in-water class carry crude oil in proportions varying from a few parts per million to about 20%, or even higher in rare cases.

The present invention is concerned with the resolution of those emulsions of the oil-in-water class which contain a minor proportion of dispersed phase, ranging from 20% down to a few parts per million. Emulsions containing more than about 20% of dispersed phase are commonly of such stability as to be less responsive to the present polymers, possibly because of the appreciable content of emulsifying agent present in such systems, whether intentionally incorporated for the purpose of stabilizing them, or not.

Although the present invention relates to emulsions containing as much as 20% dispersed oily material, many if not most of them contain appreciably less than this proportion of dispersed phase. In fact, most of the emulsions encountered in the development of this invention have contained about 1% or less of dispersed phase. It is to such oil-in-water emulsions having dispersed phase volumes of the order of 1% or less to which the present process is particularly directed. This does not mean that any sharp line of demarcation exists and that, for example, an emulsion containing 1.0% of dispersed phase will respond to the process, whereas one containing 1.1% of the same dispersed phase will remain unaffected; but that, in general, dispersed phase proportions of the order of 1% or less appear most favorable for application of the present process.

In emulsions having high proportions of dispersed phase, appreciable amount of some emulsifying agent are probably present, to account for their stability. In the case of more dilute emulsions, containing 1% or less of dispersed phase, there may be difficulty in accounting for their stability on the basis of the presence of an emulsifying agent in the conventional sense. For example, steam condensate frequently contains very small proportions of refined petroleum lubricating oil in extremely stable dispersion; yet neither the steam condensate nor the refined hydrocarbon oil would appear to contain anything suitable to stabilize the emulsion. In such cases, emulsion stability must probably be predicated on some basis other than the presence of an emulsifying agent.

The present process, as stated above, appears to be effective in resolving emulsions containing up to about 20% of dispersed phase. It is particularly effective on emulsions containing not more than 1% of dispersed phase, which emulsions are the most important, in view of their common occurrence.

The present process is not believed to depend for its effectiveness on the application of any simple laws, because it has a high level of effectiveness when used to resolve emulsions of widely different composition, e.g., crude or refined petroleum in water or diethylene glycol, as well as emulsions of oily materials like animal or vegetable oils or synthetic oily materials in Water.

Some emulsions are by-products of manufacturing procedures in which the composition of the emulsion and its ingredients is known. In many instances, however, the emulsions to be resolved are either naturallyoccurring or are accidentally or unintentionally produced; or in any event they do not result from a deliberate or premeditated emulsification procedure. In numerous instances, the emulsifying agent is unknown and as a matter of fact an emulsifying agent, in the conventional sense, may be felt to be absent. It is obviously very difficult or even impossible to recommend a resolution procedure for the treatment of such latter emulsions, on the basis of theoretical knowledge. Many of the most important applications of the present process are concerned with the resolution of emulsions which are either naturally-occurring or are accidentally, unintentionally, or unavoidably produced. Such emulsions are commonly of the most dilute type, containing about 1% or less of dispersed phase, although concentrations up to 20% are herein included, as stated above.

The process which constitutes the present invention consists in subjecting an emulsion of the oilin-water class to the action of the polymer of the kind described, thereby causing the oil particles in the emulsion to coalesce sufficiently to rise to the surface of the non-oily layer (or settle to the bottom, if the oil density is greater), when the mixture is allowed to stand in the quiescent state after treatment with the polymer reagent or demulsifier.

Applicability of the present process can be readily determined by direct trial on any emulsion, without reference to theoretical considerations. This fact facilitates its application to naturally-occurring emulsions, and to emulsions accidentally, unintentionally, or unavoidably produced; since no laboratory experimentation, to discover the nature of the emulsion components or of the emulsifying agent, is required.

The present reagents are useful because they are able to recover the oil from oil-in-water class emulsions more advantageously and at lower cost than is possible using other reagents or other processes. In some instances, they have been found to resolve emulsions which were not economically or effectively resolvable by any other known means.

These polymeric reagents are useful in undiluted form or diluted with any suitable solvent. Water is commonly found to be a highly satisfactory solvent, because of its ready availability and negligible cost; but in some cases, not-aqueous solvents such as aromatic petroleum solvent may be found preferable. The products themselves may exhibit solubilities ranging from rather modest waterdispersibility to full and complete dispersibility in that solvent. Because of the small proportions in which my reagents are customarily employed in practicing my process, apparent solubility in bulk has little significance. In the extremely low concentrations of use they undoubtedly exhibit appreciable water-solubility of water-dispersibility as well as oil-solubility or oil-dispersibility.

These polymeric reagents may be employed alone, or they may in some instances be employed to advantage admixed with other and compatible oil-in-water demulsifiers.

This process is commonly practiced simply by introducing sufficient but minor proportions of the reagent into an oil-in-water class emulsions, agitating to secure distribution of the reagent and incipient coalescence, and letting stand until the oil phase separates. The proportion of reagent required will vary with the character of the emulsion to be resolved. Ordinarily, proportions of reagent required are from at least about 1 p.p.m.-10,000 p.p.m. such as 3-l,000 ppm. for example about 5-300 p.p.m., but preferably 550 p.p.m., based on the volume of emulsions treated; but more is sometimes required. Since the economics of the process are important, no more is employed than is required for effective separation. I have found that such factors as reagents, feed rate, agitation and settling time are somewhat interrelated. For example, I have found that if suflicient agitation of proper character is employed, the settling time is shortened materially. On the other hand, if satisfactory agitation is not available, but extended settling time is, the process is equally productive of satisfactory results.

Agitation may be achieved by any available means. In many cases, it is sufiicient to introduce the polymeric reagent into the emulsion and use the agitation produced as the latter flows through a conduit or pipe. In some cases, agitation and mixing are achieved by stirring together or shaking together the emulsion and reagent. In some instances, ditsiuctly improved results are obtained by the use of air or other gaseous medium. Where the volume of gas employed is relatively small and the conditions of its introduction relatively mild, it behaves as a means of securing ordinary agitation. Where aeration is effected by introducing a gas directly under pressure or from porous plates or by means of aeration cells, the effect is often importantly improved, until it constitutes a dilference in kind rather than degree. A sub-aeration type flotation cell, of the kind commonly employed in ore beneficiation operations, is an extremely useful adjunct in the application of my reagents to many emulsions. It frequently accelerates the separation of the emulsion, reduces reagent requirements, or produces an improved eflluent. Sometimes all three improvements are observable.

Heat is ordinarily of little importance in resolving oilin-water class emulsions with my reagents. Still there are some instances where heat is a useful adjunct. This is especially true where the viscosity of the continuous phase of the emulsion is appreciably higher than that of water.

In some instances, importantly improved results are obtained by adjusting the pH of the emulsion to be treated, to an experimentally determined optimum value.

The polymeric reagent feed rate also has an optimum range, which is sufliciently wide, however, to meet the tolerances required for the variances encountered daily in commercial operations. A large excess of reagent can produce distinctly unfavorable results.

The manner of practicing the present invention is clear from the foregoing description. However, for completeness the following non-limiting specific examples are included for purposes of illustration.

An oil-in-water petroleum emulsion was treated as follows:

A series of four bottles of the emulsion were treated with the polymeric reagents in the following concentrations 30, 15, 7.5 and 3.75 p.p.m., based on the emulsion. A commercial oil-in-water demulsifier was run as a con trol and at the same concentrations as the polymeric reagent after suflicient agitation, in the form of shakes per minute for 5 minutes. The bottles were observed and comparisons drawn between the effect of the polymeric reagent and the commercial demulsifier as to which gave the clear water layer.

In all cases employing the polymeric reagents of Table I, Examples 1-23; and Table II, Examples 1-22, it was found that the polymeric reagents of this invention were far superior to the commercial demulsifier. After selecting the demulsifier by the above procedure, the demulsifier is employed in a commercial application. The following illustrates commercial applications of this invention.

Commercial Example I My process is practiced on location by flowing the well fluids, consisting of free crude oil, oil-in-water emulsion, and natural gas, through a gas separator, then to a steel tank of 5,000-barrel capacity. In this tank, the oil-in-water emulsion falls to the bottom and is so separated from the free oil. The oil-in-water emulsion is withdrawn from the bottom of this tank, and the demulsifier selected is introduced into the stream at this point. Dependin on the emulsion, the proper proportion of demulsifier is employed.

The chemicalized emulsion flows to a second tank, mixing being achieved in the pipe. In the second tank it is allowed to stand quiescent. Clear water is withdrawn from the bottom of this tank, separated oil from the top.

Commercial Example II This is an example of the application of the aeration step in my process. The emulsion is a naturally-occurring petroleum oil-in-water emulsion. It is placed in a subaeration fioation cell of the type commonly employed in the ore beneficiation industry. The stirring mechanism is started to begin introduction of the air, and at the same time the mixture of the selected demulsifier is added in the proper proportions of demulsifier to emulsion. Clear examples are taken from the bottom of the machine.

This example illustrates the beneficial influence of the aeration technique. In most cases, it accelerates separation. In some, it permits use of smaller proportions of reagent; but in some cases, it achieves resolution, whereas, in absence of its use, satisfactory separation may not be achieved in reasonable time with reasonable reagent cons-umption.

My reagents have likewise been successfully applied to other oil-in-water class emulsions, of which representative examples have been referred to above. Their use is, therefore, not limited to crude petroleum-in-water emulsions.

Use as corrosion inhibitors This phase of this invention relates to the use of these polymers in inhibiting the corrosion of metals, most particularly iron, steel and ferrous alloys. These polymers can be used in a wider variety of applications and systems where iron, steel and ferrous alloys are affected by corrosion. They may be employed for inhibiting corrosion in processes which require this protective or passivating coating as by dissolution in the medium which comes in contact with the metal. They can be used in preventing atmospheric corrosion, underwater corrosion, corrosion in steam and hot water systems, corrosion in chemical industries, underground corrosion, etc.

The corrosion inhibitors contemplated herein find special utility in the prevention of corrosion of pipe or equip ment which is in contact with a corrosive oil-containing medium, as, for example, in oil wells producing corrosive oil or oil-brine mixtures, in refineries, and the like. These inhibitors may, however, be used in other systems or applications. They appear to possess properties which impart to metals resistance to attack by a variety of cor- 15 rosive agents, such as brines, weak inorganic acids, organic acids, CO H 5, etc.

The method of carrying out this process is relatively simple in principle. The corrosion preventive reagent is dissolved in the liquid corrosive medium in small amounts and is thus kept in contact with the metal surface to be protected. Alternatively, the corrosion inhibitor may be applied first to the metal surface, either as is, or as a solution in some carrier liquid or paste. Continuous application, as in the corrosive solution, is the preferred method, however.

The present process finds particular utility in the protection of metal equipment of oil and gas wells, especially those containing or producing an acidic constituent such as H 3, C organic acids and the like. For the protection of these wells, the reagent, either undiluted or dissolved in a suitable solvent, is fed down the annulus of the well between the casing and producing tubing where it becomes commingled With the fluid in the well and is pumped or flowed from the well with these fluids, thus contacting the inner wall of the casing, the outer and inner wall of tubing, and the inner surface of all wellhead fittings, connections and flow lines handling the corrosive fluid.

Where the inhibitor composition is a liquid, it is conventionally fed into the well annulus by means of a motor driven chemical injector pump, or it may be dumped periodically (e.g., once every day or two) into the annulus by means of a so-called boil weevil device or similar arrangement. Where the inhibitor is a solid, it may be dropped into the well as a solid lump or stick, it may be blown in as a powder with gas, or it may be washed in with a small stream of the well fluids or other liquid. Where there is gas pressure on the casing, it is necessary, of course, to employ any of these treating methods through a pressure equalizing chamber equipped to allow introduction of reagent into the chamber, equalization of pressure between chamber and casing, and travel of reagent from chamber to well casing.

Occasionally, oil and gas wells are completed in such a manner that there is no opening between the annulus and the bottom of the tubing or pump. The results, for example, when the tubing is surrounding at some point by a packing held by the casing or earth formation below the casing. In such wells the reagent may be introduced into the tubing through a pressure equalizing vessel, after stopping the flow of fluids. After being so treated, the well should be left closed in for a period of time sufiicient to permit the reagent to drop to the bottom of the well.

For injection into the well annulus, the corrosion inhibitor is usually employed as a solution in a suitable solvent. The selection of solvent will depend much upon the exact reagent being used and its solubility characteristics.

For treating wells with packed-off tubing, the use of solid sticks or plugs of inhibitor is especially convenient. These may be prepared by blending the inhibitor with a mineral wax, asphalt or resin in a proportion suflicient to give a moderately hard and high-melting solid which can be handled and fed into the well conveniently.

The protective action of the herein described reagents appears to be maintained for an appreciable time after treatment ceases, but eventually is lost unless another application is made.

For the protection of gas wells and gas-condensate wells, the amount of corrosion inhibitor required will be within range of one-half to 3 lbs. per million cubic feet of gas produced, depending upon the amounts and composition of corrosive agents in the gas and the amount of liquid hydrocarbon and water produced. However, in no case does the amount of inhibitor required appear to be stoichiometrically related to the amount of acids produced by a well, since protection is obtained with much less corrosion inhibitor than usually would be required for neutralization of the acids produced.

These compositions are particularly effective in the prevention of corrosion in systems containing a corrosive 16 aqueous medium, and most particularly in systems containing brines.

These polymeric reagents can also be used in the prevention of corrosion in the secondary recovery of petroleum by water flooding and in the disposal of waste water and brine from oil and gas wells. Still more particularly, they can be used in a process of preventing corrosion in water flooding and in the disposal of waste water and brine from oil and gas wells which is characterized by injecting into an underground formation an aqueous solution containing minor amounts of the compositions of this invention, in suflicient amounts to prevent the corrosion of metals employed in such operation.

When an oil well ceases to flow by the natural pressure in the formation and/or substantial quantities of oil can no longer be obtained by the usual pumping methods, various processes are sometimes used for the treatment of the oil-bearing formation in order to increase the flow of oil. These processes are usually described as secondary recovery processes. One such process which is used quite frequently is the water flooding process wherein water is pumped under pressure into what is called an injection well and oil, along with quantities of water, that have been displaced from the formation, are pumped out of an adjacent well usually referred to as a producing well. The oil which is pumped from the producing well is then separated from the water that has been pumped from the producing well and the water is pumped to a storage reservoir from which it can again be pumped into the injection well. Supplementary water from other sources may also be used in conjunction with the produced water. When the storage reservoir is open to the atmosphere and the oil is subject to aeration this type of water flooding system is referred to herein as an open water flooding system. If the water is recirculated in a closed system without substantial aeration, the secondary recovery method is referred to herein as a closed water flooding system.

Because of the corrosive nature of oil field brines, to economically produce oil by water flooding, it is necessary to prevent or reduce corrosion since corrosion increases the cost thereof by making it necessary to repair and replace such equipment at frequent intervals.

I have now discovered a method of preventing corrosion in systems containing a corrosive aqueous media, and most particularly in systems containing brines, which is characterized by employing the compounds described herein.

I have also discovered an improved process of protecting from corrosion metallic equipment employed in secondary oil recovery by water flooding such as injection wells, transmission lines, filters, meters, storage tanks, and other metallic implements employed therein and particularly those containing iron, steel, and ferrous alloys, such process being characterized by employing in water flood operation an aqueous solution of the compositions of this invention.

The invention, then is particularly concerned with preventing corrosion in a Water flooding process characterized by the flooding medium, containing an aqueous or an oil field brine solution of these compounds.

In many oil fields large volumes of water are produced and must be disposed of where water flooding operations are not in use or where Water flooding operations cannot handle the amount of produced water. Most states have laws restricting pollution of streams and land with produced waters, and oil producers must then find some method of disposing of the waste produced salt water. In many instances therefore, the salt Water is disposed of by injecting the water into permeable low pressure strata below the fresh water level. The formation into which the Water is injected is not the oil producing formation and this type of disposal is defined as salt water disposal or waste water disposal. The problems of corrosion of equipment are analogous to those encountered in the secondary recovery operation by water flooding.

The compositions of this invention can also be used in such water disposal wells thus providing a simple and economical method of solving the corrosion problems encountered in disposing of unwanted water.

Water flood and waste disposal operations are too well known to require further elaboration. In essence, in the present process, the flooding operation is effected in the conventional manner except that the flooding medium contains a minor amount of these compounds, suflicient to prevent corrosion.

While the flooding medium employed in accordance with the present invention contains water or oil field brine and the compounds of this water, the medium may also contain other materials. For example, the flooding medium may also contain other agents such as surface active agents or detergents which aid in wetting throughout the system and also promote the desorption of residual oil from the formation, sequestering agents which prevent the deposition of calcium and/ or magnesium compounds in the interstices of the formation, bactericides which prevent the formation from becoming plugged through bacterial growth, tracers, etc. Similarly, they may be employed in conjunction with any of the operating techniques commonly employed in water flooding and water disposal processes, for example five spot flooding, peripheral flooding, etc. and in conjunction with other secondary recovery methods.

The concentration of the corrosion inhibitors of this invention will vary widely depending on the particular composition, the particular system, etc. Concentrations of at least about ppm, such as about to 10,000 p.p.m. for example about 25 to 5,000 ppm, advantageously about 50 to 1,000 ppm, but preferably about 75-250 p.p.m. may be employed. Larger amounts can also be employed such as 1.55.0% although there is gen erally no commercial advantage in so doing.

For example, since the success of a water flooding operation manifestly depends upon its total cost being less than the value of the additional oil recovered from the oil reservoir, it is quite important to use as little as possible of these compounds consistent with optimum corrosion inhibition. Since these compounds are themselves inexpensive and are used in low concentrations, they enhance the success of a flood operation by lowering the cost thereof.

By varying the constituents of the composition, the compounds of this invention can be made more oil or more water soluble, depending on whether the composition is to be employed in oil or water systems.

Although the manner of practicing the present invention is clear from the foregoing description, the following non-limiting specific examples are included for purposes of illustration.

Examples These tests were run under conditions so set up as to simulate those found in an actual producing well. The test procedure involved the measurement of the corrosive action of fluids inhibited by the compositions herein described upon sandblasted SAE 1020 steel coupons measuring .4: inch in diameter and being 4 inches long when compared to test coupons containing no inhibitor and commercial inhibitors.

Clean pint bottles were half-filled (almost 200 ml.) with sea-water (i.e., tap water containing 3% by weight of the salts magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium sulfate and sodium chloride) which had been saturated with hydrogen sulfide. Those requiring inhibitor were charged with the same by pipetting calculated amounts contained in suitable solvents (water, isopropyl alcohol, mineral spirits) to give the required parts per million of inhibitor. Uninhibited blanks were run in conjunction with inhibited solutions. The bottles were now filled (total volume now about 400 ml.) leaving a small air space to allow for expansion. The weighed coupons attached to sealing caps were screwed onto the bottles and they were placed on a rotating wheel for seven days at 115 F. The coupons were then removed, cleaned electrolytically in 5% sulfuric acid (using the coupons as a cathode) and washed successively with dilute sodium hydroxide, twice with water, once with acetone and finally dried.

When the inhibitor was oil-soluble as contrasted to water-soluble, a two-phase system was used instead of the all-brine system and this simply consisted of using hydrogen sulfide saturated mineral spirits to replace 25% by volume of the brine.

The changes in the weights of the coupons during the corrosion test were taken as a measurement of the effectiveness of the inhibitor compositions. Protective percentage was calculated for each test coupon taken from the inhibited fluids in accordance with the following formula:

X 100 =percent protection in which W is the loss in weight of the coupon taken from uninhibited fluids and W is the loss in weight of coupons which were subjected to inhibited fluids.

The results obtained are presented in the following Tables III and IV. Table III presents results carried out on an all-brine system whereas Table IV presents results obtained from an oil-brine system.

TABLE III.-ROTATING BOTTLE WEIGHT LOSS TESTS IN ALL-BRINE SYSTEMS Example Percent protection of given ppm. of inhibitor P.p.rn 5 10 15 20 30 100 Commercial inhibitor 0 13 45 62 58 59 62 60 TABLE 1V.ROTATING BOTTLE WEIGHT LOSS TESTS IN OIL-BRINE SYSTEMS Percent protection at given ppm. of inhibitor These polymeric materials can also be employed in conjunction with other corrosion inhibitors, for example of the film-forming type. Non-limiting examples include the acylated polyamines such as described in US. Patents Re. 23,227, 2,466,517, 2,468,163, 2,598,213 and 2,640,- 029. These acylated polyamines may be described as amides, imidazoienes, tetrahydropyrimidines, etc.

Water clarification The present invention relates to a method for the clarification of water containing suspended matter.

According to the present invention clarification of water containing suspended particles of matter is efiected by adding to such water polymers of this invention.

Water containing suspended particles which may be treated by the present invention may have its origin either in natural or artificial sources, including industrial and sanitary sources. Waters containing suspended particles of natural origin are usually surface Waters, wherein the particles are suspended soil particles (silt), although subsurface waters may also be treated according to the present invention. Water having its origin in industrial process (including sanitary water) operations may contain many diiferent varieties of suspended particles. These particles are generally the result of the particular industrial or sanitary operation concerned. Prior to discharging such industrial waste Waters into natural water courses it generally is desired that the suspended matter be removed.

The present process may likewise be applied to Water contained in stock or fish ponds, lakes or other natural or artificial bodies of water containing suspended solids. It may be applied to industrial water supplied either in prep aration therefor, during or after use and prior to disposal. It may be applied to sanitary water supplies either for the elimination of suspended solids prior to use for such purposes, or it may be applied to such waters which have become contaminated with impurities from any source.

Most naturally occurring waters contain an amount of simple electrolytes (sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, aluminum salts, etc.) in excess of that necessary for the initial aggregation of the ultimate silt particles. This is likewise true of particles of suspended material in industrial or sanitary waters. The ultimate particles of silt or other materials are therefore naturally somewhat aggregated by reason of the presence of such electrolytes. However, the forces binding such ultimate particles together are not great and moreover are not such as to generally efiect either rapid settling rates of the flocculated material or strong enough to prevent deflocculation.

The compositions of the invention cause rapid flocculation and also reinforce the formed aggregates of particles causing a general tightening or bonding together of the initial particles and an increased rate of coagulation and settling, thus forming a less turbid supernatant liquid.

The addition of the compositions of the invention to the water suspension should be made in such a fashion that the resulting flocculation and aggregation of the particles takes place uniformly throughout the body of water. In order to obtain a uniform addition of the compositions of the invention to the water-borne suspension it is generally desirable to prepare a relatively dilute stock solution of the inventive compositions and then to add such solution to the body of water in the proportions indicated above. Clarification may take place either in the natural body of water or it may be caused to take place in hydraulic thickeners of known design.

The amount of inventive compositions to be employed wil vary depending upon the amount and the degree of subdivision of the solids to be agglomerated or flocculated, the chemical nature of such solid and the particular inventive compositions employed. In general, I employ at least a sufficient amount of the inventive compositions to promote flocculation. In general, I employ ODDS-10,000 ppm. or more such as about (LS-1,000 p.p.m., for example about 1-500 p.p.m., but preferably about 2-5 p.p.m. Since the economics of these processes are important, no more than the minimum amount required for eflicient removal is generally employed. It is desired, of course, to employ sufficient of the inventive compositions so flocculation will take place without causing the formation of stable dispersions.

The precipitating action of the inventive compositions can be employed in the application of loading or filling materials to textiles or paper.

In the processing of fine mineral particles in aqueous suspension the inventive composition flocculating agents will be especially useful. In the processing of ores to separate valuable mineral constituents from undesirable matrix constituents, it is frequent practice to grind the etc into a finely-divided state to facilitate separation steps such as selective flotation and the like. In many ore dressing procedures, the finely-divided ore is suspended in water to form a pulp or slime. After processing, it is usually desirable to dewater the pulps or slimes either by sedimentation or filtering. In such operations, certain ores are particularly troublesome in that the finely-divided ore, when suspended in water, forms a stable slime which settles very slowly, if at all. Such slimes are unsuitable for concentration or dewatering by sedimentation and are difficult to dewater by filtration because of the tendency to clog the pores of the filter, thus leading to excessively time-consuming and inefficient operation of the filters. In some cases, for example, in certain phosphate mining operations, the formation of very stable suspensions of finely-divided mineral results not only in the loss of considerable valuable mineral as Waste but also requires large expenditures for the maintenance of holding ponds for the waste. Similar problems are involved in processing gold, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, iron, such as taconite ores, uranium and other ores, and the inventive flocculating agents will be useful in these operations.

Some specific additional applications for the flocculating agent for the invention, not intended to be limiting but merely illustrative are listed below. The inventive composition can be used for the clarification of beers or wines during manufacture. Another use is in processing efliuents in pharmaceutical operations for the recovery of valuable products or removal of undesirable by-products. A particularly important use for these fiocculating agents is in the clarification of both beet sugar and cane juices in their processing. Still another use is for flocculation and recovery of pigments from aqueous suspensions thereof. The inventive composition will be particularly useful in sewage treatment operations as a fiocculating agent. A further use is to promote by flocculation the removal of coal from aqueous suspensions thereof. In other Words, the inventive composition flocculating agents of the invention are generally useful for processing aqueous efiiuents of all types to facilitate the removal of suspended solids.

A water soluble or Water dispersible composition, to the extent of effective concentration is employed.

These compositions can also be employed in the process of flocculating white water and/or recycling of the precipitate solids in the paper making process described in US. application S.N. 347,023, filed Feb. 24, 1964, now abandoned, and other processes described therein.

Although the manner of practicing the present invention is clear from the foregoing description, the following non-limiting specific examples are included for purposes of illustration.

Examples A suspension of FeS in brine was subjected to the action of a water-soluble polymer prepared as outlined in the foregoing discussion.

In these tests, the FeS concentration is 25 parts per million and 1% and 5% brine solution were used. Metered quantities (500 ml.) of the homogeneous suspension were placed into 1000 ml. beakers and stirred at rpm. The polymer to be tested was injected into the suspension to give final active concentrations varying between 2 through 4 parts per million. A commercial flocculant was run simultaneously at equivalent concentrations for comparison and the stirring was achieved by use of a Phipp and Bird floc multi-stirrer. After one minute the stirring rate was reduced to 20 to 30 r.p.m. and maintained thus for ten minutes. At this time the stirring rate was reduced to 20 to 30 rpm. and maintained thus for ten minutes. At this time the stirring was stopped. The evaluation of the polymer started at the moment of flocculation and continued with respect to the floc size and rate of precipitation. The final evaluation was achieved by visual examination of the color of the resultant aqueous phase.

The results obtained by employing the polymers of Table I, Examples 1-23; and Table II, Examples 1-22 were found to be superior to the commercial flocculating agent.

These compounds are also effective in fiocculating the other systems described herein.

The following is a partial list of industry systems in which the polymers of the present invention can be employed as fiocculating agents:

Other derivatives These products may be further reacted to form derivatives thereof, for example, they may be oxyalkylated with alkylene oxides such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, octylene oxide, alone or in combination; with styrene oxide, glycide, methyl glycide, alkyl glycidyl ether, glycidyl isopropyl ether, glycidyl phenylether, diepoxides, polyepoxides, etc.

They may be reacted with alkylene imines such as ethyleneimine, propylene imine, etc., dialkylaminoepoxypropane of the structure where the Rs are alkyl, etc.

They may be acylated with monocarboxylic acids, such as aromatic acids, fatty acids, aliphatic acids, etc. and polycarboxylic acids, aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, aromatic dicarboxylic acids for example diglycolic, phthalic, succinic, etc., acids.

These compounds may also be treated with more than one agent, for example, they may be partially acylated, then oxyalkylated, partially oxyalkylated then acylated, etc.

Salts may be formed of these polymers as derivatives for example salts of either organic or inorganic acids such as acetic acid, glycollic acid, fatty acids, benzoic acid, etc. HCl, sulfuric acids, etc.

Other uses In addition to the uses described above, these compositions and/or derivatives thereof, can be used as follows:

as demulsifiers for oil-in-water emulsions as biocides i.e. bacterocides, algicides, etc.

as additives to various petroleum fuels including gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuels, etc.

as gasoline anti-icers and anti-stallers as flotation agents, such as flotation collection agents as asphalt emulsifiers and anti-stripping agents for asphalt-mineral aggregate compositions as emulsifiers, for example, in metal cleaners, autopolishes, wax emulsions, etc.

as additives for sludging oil and cuttings oils as fuel dehazing agents as agents for preparing emulsions for the hydrofrac process of enhancing oil recovery as agents to prepare polymer emulsions as agents of solvents to inhibit parafiin deposition as agents for the textile industry such as mercerizing assistants, wetting agents, rewetting agents, penetrating agents, dispersing agents, softening agents, dyeing assistants, etc.

as anti-static agents for textiles, plastics, etc.

as agents in leather processing as lube oil additives as emulsifiers for insecticidal and agricultural compositions as additives for rubber latices, for example, to prevent acid coagulation as additives in the production of latex foam rubber, for example, as gel sensitizers and processing aids in the manufacture of foam rubber as additives for pigment dispersion in various applications such as paints, plastic, rubber, etc. as additives for primer paints to help insure adhesion to metallic surfaces as additives useful as a freeze-thaw stabilizer for latexbase paints as anti-caking agents to prevent caking due to collection of moisture or hygroscopic material, for example, in fertilizers, Sylvite, sodium nitrite, rock salt, ammonium sulfate and chloride, etc.

as agents for the pulp and paper industry, such as sizing aids, etc.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. A process of water clarification which comprises treating water containing suspended matter with an amino-amide polymer reaction product formed from reactants consisting essentially of (A) at least a polyamine selected from the group consisting of (1) a polyamine having the formula H NH2(AI I)nH where n is 1-8, A isf a radical selected from the group consisting (a) (CH where m is 2-10, (b) CH3 -lH-OH2- (c) CHzCHCHg- 1) CH3 CH3 (H-CH-)m (2) a polyamine having the formula H H RI I-(AI Q),.H where n is l-8,

R is an alkyl group having 8-16 carbon atoms, A is (CH where m is 210,

( H OzHs C12H25NC HaNCzH4NH2 (4) CH2OCH2CH2CH2NH2 OI-Iz-OCHaOHzCI-DNHz (5) a preacylated polyamine selected from the group consisting of (a) O H (6) an aromatic polyamine selected from the group consisting of where R is a member selected from the group consisting of (7) alkyl derivatives of (6),

24 (8) alkoxy derivatives of (6), and (9) halo derivatives of (6),

and (B) an acrylate-type compound having the formula R0 ll oI-I2=('J-O0R' Where R is a radical selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl and R is a radical selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, secbutyl, tert-butyl, aryl and hexyl,

wherein units of the polyamine and the acrylate-type compound are in the polymer backbone and at least a nitrogen atom is attached to a 5 carbon of the acrylatetype compound.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said amino-amide polymer is crosslinked.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein (B) of said aminoamido polymer is 6. The process of claim 5 wherein said amino-amido polymer is crosslinked.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,305,493 2/ 1967 Emmons.

MICHAEL E. ROGERS, Primary Examiner 

